Firms fast track £180m of storm overflow spending

Water and sewerage companies are to accelerate £180m of investment over the next year to speed up the stemming of sewage spills from storm overflows.

The news was announced by Defra following environment secretary Steve Barclay’s December call to the industry to measurably reduce discharges before 2025.

Barclay said the spending was expected to prevent more than 8000 discharges. It comes in addition to the £3.1bn being spent under PR19 allowances.

The spend breakdown is as follows: 

• Anglian Water – £50m

• Severn Trent – £41m

• Southern Water – £10m

• United Utilities – £39m

• Wessex Water – £8m

Defra noted that Northumbrian Water had already committed to spend an extra £30m this year and Yorkshire Water £99m, therefore these amounts are excluded from the £180m announcement.